"Trillions of dollars of assets will be passed down to children and grandchildren in the coming years, so how do parents start the discussion?"  Suzanne Jones, Head of Wills & Estates was recently interviewed by News Corp Australia for her advice on passing down the wealth.  

Suzanne suggests the parents take the lead in starting conversations with their adult children about inheritances and how their estate will be divided.  "In some circumstances parents may not wish to disclose exactly how they have divided their estate, but they should at least tell their children who has been appointed as executors and where their original documents are held" she says.  

"It's important for blended families to be open about their wills, especially when there are partners and half-siblings involved in the family dynamic.  It can be confronting for children to realise a parent's partner received a portion of the estate.  This can be a difficult situation to navigate, so it's best to be open and honest from the outset."

Click here to read the full article "Inheritances: when and how to start talking about your assets" by Anthony Keane, Personal Finance Writer

Suzanne Jones is an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates and the head of our Wills & Estates department.  If you have any questions about your estate planning call us to make an appointment on 03 9804 0035.

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